tow HONDA CR-V 2001 RD1-RD3 / 1.G User Guide

Automati
c Transmissio n

Shif t Loc k Releas e
Thi s allow s yo u t o mov e th e shif t
leve r ou t o f Par k i f th e norma l
metho d o f pushin g o n th e brak e
peda l an d pullin g th e shif t leve r doe s
no t work .
1 . Se t th e Parkin g brake .
2 . Remov e th e ke y fro m th e ignitio n
switch .
3 . Plac e a clot h o n th e edg e o f th e
shif t loc k releas e slo t cove r o n th e
steerin g column . Remov e th e
cove r b y carefull y pryin g o n th e
edg e wit h a smal l flat-tippe d
screwdrive r (no t include d i n th e

too l kit) .
4
. Inser t th e ke y i n th e Shif t Loc k
Releas e slo t o n th e steerin g

column .

5 . Pus h dow n o n th e ke y whil e yo u
pul l th e shif t leve r toward s yo u
an d mov e it ou t o f Par k t o Neutral . SHIF
T LOC K RELEAS E SLO T
6 . Remov e th e ke y fro m th e Shif t
Loc k Releas e slot , the n reinstal l
th e cover .
Depres s th e brak e peda l an d
restar t th e engine .
I f yo u nee d t o us e th e Shif t Loc k
Release , i t mean s you r vehicl e is
developin g a problem . Hav e th e
vehicl e checke d b y you r Hond a
dealer .
Drivin g

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r vehicle . Th e indicato r
o n th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t
th e parkin g brak e is no t full y
released ; i t doe s no t indicat e tha t th e
parkin g brak e is firml y set . Mak e
sur e th e parkin g brak e is se t firml y
o r you r vehicl e ma y rol l i f i t i s
parke d o n a n incline .
I f you r vehicl e ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e vehicl e fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e vehicl e i s facin g uphill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
pu t i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e vehicl e i s facin g downhill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e i s full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e window s ar e closed .
Tur n of f th e lights .
Place any packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e carg o are a o r tak e the m
wit h you .
Loc k th e doors .
Neve r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

Driving

Towin
g a Traile r

You r Hond a ha s bee n designe d
primaril y t o carr y passenger s an d
thei r cargo . Yo u ca n us e it t o to w a
traile r i f yo u carefull y observ e th e
loa d limits , us e th e prope r equipment ,
an d follo w th e guideline s in thi s

section .
Loa
d Limit s Tota
l Traile r Weight : Th e tota l
weigh t o f th e traile r an d
everythin g loade d i n i t mus t no t

excee d 1,000Ib s (450kg).Towin g

a loa d tha t i s to o heav y ca n
seriousl y affec t you r vehicle' s
handlin g an d performance . I t ca n
als o damag e th e engin e an d
drivetrain . Tongu
e Load : Th e weigh t tha t
th e tongu e o f a fully-loade d traile r
put s o n th e hitc h shoul d b e
approximatel y 1 0 percen t o f th e
traile r weight . To o littl e tongu e
loa d ca n mak e th e traile r unstabl e
an d caus e it t o sway . To o muc h
tongu e loa d reduce s front-tir e
tractio n an d steerin g control .

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r
T o achiev e a prope r tongu e load ,
star t b y loadin g 6 0 percen t o f th e
loa d towar d th e fron t o f th e traile r
an d 4 0 percen t towar d th e rear , the n
re-adjus t th e loa d a s needed .
Gros
s Vehicl e Weigh t Ratin g
(GVWR) :

Th e tota l weigh t o f th e vehicle , al l
occupants , al l cargo , and the
tongu e loa d mus t no t exceed :
4,16 5 Ib s (1,90 0 kg)
Gros
s Axl e Weigh t Ratin g

(GAWR) :

Th e tota l weigh t o f th e vehicle , al l
occupants , al l cargo , an d th e
tongu e loa d mus t no t exceed :
2,03 0 Ib s (93 0 kg )
o n th e fron t axl e

2,15 5 Ib s (99 0 kg )

o n th e rea r axl e

Driving

Exceedin
g loa d limit s o r
improperl y loadin g you r vehicl e
an d traile r ca n caus e a cras h i n
whic h yo u ca n b e seriousl y
injure d o r killed .
Chec k th e loadin g o f you r
vehicl e an d traile r carefull y
befor e startin g t o drive .

Towin
g a Traile r

Checkin g Load s
Th e bes t wa y t o confir m tha t vehicl e
an d traile r weight s ar e withi n limit s
i s t o hav e the m checke d a t a publi c

scale .

Usin g a suitabl e scal e o r a specia l
tongu e loa d gauge , chec k th e tongu e
loa d th e firs t tim e yo u se t u p a
towin g combinatio n ( a fully-loade d
vehicl e an d trailer) , the n rechec k th e
tongu e loa d wheneve r th e condition s

change .
Towin
g Equipmen t an d

Accessorie s

Towin g ca n requir e a variet y o f
equipment , dependin g o n th e siz e o f
you r trailer , ho w it wil l b e used , an d
ho w muc h loa d yo u ar e towing .
Discus s you r need s wit h you r traile r
sale s o r renta l agency , an d follo w th e
guideline s i n th e res t o f thi s section .
Als o mak e sur e tha t al l equipmen t i s
properl y installe d an d tha t i t meet s
federal , state , province , an d loca l
regulations .
Hitches

An y hitc h use d o n you r vehicl e mus t
b e properl y bolte d t o th e underbody .

Safety Chains

Alway s us e safet y chains . Mak e sur e
the y ar e secure d t o bot h th e traile r
an d hitch , an d tha t the y cros s unde r
th e tongu e s o the y ca n catc h th e
traile r i f i t become s unhitched .
Leav e enoug h slac k t o allo w th e
traile r t o tur n corner s easily , bu t d o
no t le t th e chain s dra g o n th e ground .

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Trailer Brakes

Hond a recommend s tha t an y traile r
havin g a tota l weigh t o f 1,00 0 Ib s
(45 0 kg ) o r mor e b e equippe d wit h
it s ow n electri c o r surge-typ e brakes .
I f yo u choos e electri c brakes , b e
sur e the y ar e electronicall y actuated .
D o no t attemp t t o ta p int o you r
vehicle' s hydrauli c system . N o
matte r ho w successfu l i t ma y seem ,
an y attemp t t o attac h traile r brake s
t o you r vehicle' s hydrauli c syste m
wil l lowe r brakin g effectivenes s an d
creat e a potentia l hazard .
Trailer
Lights

You r vehicl e ha s a traile r lightin g
connecto r locate d behin d th e lef t
sid e pane l i n th e carg o area . Refe r t o
th e drawin g abov e fo r th e wirin g
colo r cod e an d purpos e o f eac h pin .
I f yo u us e a converter , yo u ca n ge t
th e connecto r an d pin s tha t mat e
wit h th e connecto r i n you r vehicl e
fro m you r Hond a dealer . Sinc
e lightin g an d wirin g var y i n
traile r typ e an d brand , yo u shoul d
als o hav e a qualifie d mechani c instal l
a suitabl e connecto r betwee n th e
vehicl e an d th e trailer .
Drivin g

GROUN
D
(BLACK )
BACK-U
P LIGH T

(GREEN/BLACK )
LEF
T TUR N SIGNA L

(GREEN/RED )

RIGH T TUR N SIGNA L

(GREEN/YELLOW )
BRAK
E LIGH T

(GREEN/WHITE )
TAILLIGH
T

(RED/GREEN )

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment

Man y state s an d Canadia n province s
requir e specia l outsid e mirror s whe n
towin g a trailer . Eve n if the y don't ,
yo u shoul d instal l specia l mirror s if
yo u canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r
i f th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y i f an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r
towin g situation . Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e t o chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properl y
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 18 2 an d 183 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chains , an d an y
othe r attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 23 5),
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .
Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
Th e adde d weight , length , an d
heigh t o f a traile r wil l affec t you r
vehicle' s handlin g an d performance ,
s o drivin g wit h a traile r require s
som e specia l drivin g skill s an d
techniques .
Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
others , tak e tim e t o practic e drivin g
maneuver s befor e headin g fo r th e
ope n road , an d follo w th e guideline s
discusse d below .
Towing Speeds and Gears
Driv e slowe r tha n norma l i n al l
drivin g situations , an d obe y poste d
spee d limit s fo r vehicle s wit h trailers .
I f yo u hav e a n automati c
transmission , us e th e Over-Driv e
(O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a traile r
o n leve l roads . Tur n of f th e Over -
Driv e (O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a
traile r in hill y terrai n (se e pag e 152 ).
(Se e "Driving on Hills" in th e nex t
colum n fo r additiona l gea r information.
)

Making Turns and Braking

Mak e turn s mor e slowl y an d wide r
tha n normal . Th e traile r track s a
smalle r ar c tha n you r vehicle , an d it
ca n hi t o r ru n ove r somethin g th e
vehicl e misses . Allo w mor e tim e an d
distanc e fo r braking . D o no t brak e o r
tur n suddenl y a s thi s coul d caus e th e
traile r t o jackknif e o r tur n over .

Driving on Hills

Whe n climbin g hills , closel y watc h
you r temperatur e gauge . I f i t near s
th e re d mark , tur n th e ai r
conditionin g off , reduc e spee d and , i f
necessary , pul l t o th e sid e o f th e
roa d to le t th e engin e cool .
I f th e automati c transmissio n shift s
frequentl y betwee n 3r d an d 4t h
gear s whil e goin g u p a hill , tur n of f
th e Over-Driv e (O/D ) mod e (se e
pag e 172 ). I
f yo u mus t sto p whe n facin g uphill ,
us e th e foo t brak e o r parkin g brake .
D o no t tr y t o hol d th e vehicl e i n
plac e b y pressin g o n th e accelerator ,
a s thi s ca n caus e th e automati c
transmissio n to overheat .
Whe n drivin g dow n hills , reduc e
you r spee d an d shif t dow n to 2n d
gear . D o no t "ride " th e brakes , an d
remembe r i t wil l tak e longe r t o slo w
dow n an d sto p whe n towin g a trailer .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t
you r steerin g an d caus e traile r
swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a
larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d
an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g

corrections .

Backing Up

Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom of th e steerin g
wheel; then tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e to th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right .
Parking

Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) o r
i n 1s t o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .

Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e

You r CR- V ca n b e towe d behin d a
motorhom e a t lega l highwa y speed s
u p to 6 5 mp h (10 0 km/h) . T o avoi d
damag e t o th e 4W D syste m it mus t
b e "fla t towed " wit h al l fou r wheel s
o n th e ground .
Whe n purchasin g a to w bar , mak e
sur e yo u selec t a reputabl e
manufacture r an d installer . Follo w
th e manufacturer' s attachmen t
instruction s carefully .
Afte r attachin g th e to w ba r t o you r
motorhome , d o th e followin g to
prepar e you r CR- V fo r "fla t towing" :
5-speed
Manual Transmission
Whe
n preparin g to to w you r CR-V ,

mak e sur e th e transmissio n is
fille d to th e correc t leve l (se e pag e

222 ). D o no t overfill . Releas
e th e parkin g brake . Shif
t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .
Leav
e th e ke y in th e ignitio n
switc h an d th e ignitio n switc h in

ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steerin g

whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e

th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n

dow n th e battery .
Automatic
Transmission

Whe n preparin g t o to w you r CR-V ,
mak e sur e th e transmissio n i s ful l o f
fluid . Maintainin g th e correc t leve l i s
ver y important . D o no t overfill . D o

th e followin g every day immediately

before you begin towing. Follow th e

procedur e exactly . Otherwise , sever e
automati c transmissio n damag e wil l
occur .
CONTINUED
Drivin g